Black Betty

It's still the DR650SE today. I ordered a couple back issues of Dual Sport News with reviews of the Suzuki and Kawasaki's KLR. The articles brought me to the conclusion that the DR fits my needs better without making compromises I don't want (finicky turn signal controls, less suspension travel, weaker brakes and the whole "doohickey" thing). The ironic thing is Dual Sport News used to be a KLR-only magazine.

I used to think I'd call my bike Suzy, but this one looks more like Black Betty to me...

Dream stable

Let's say I won the lottery and could buy whatever I wanted. My wife brought up this hypothetical situation and said I could get a touring bike (which is the only thing she'd be interested in riding with me) and another for riding around town. Since I don't think there's anything more suited for two-up, long-distance comfort than the Honda Gold Wing, my first choice is a no-brainer. For my around town (or "all-around") bike I'd have a KTM LC4 640 Enduro imported, since money is no object. Put on the optional 18 liter fuel tank and some Wolfman Expedition soft bags--probably the black ones would look better on a orange bike--and it's a perfect adventure tourer.

Suzuki DR650SE

I've been leaning more toward the Suzuki lately. I really like the simpler design--both the engine and styling. I think if it comes down to buying one I'm probably going to get whatever color is in stock because I can't decide which one I like more: yellow, blue or the new for '07 black. Black would probably look good with yellow Wolfman Expedition bags. The bike needs a skid plate, luggage rack and probably some side guards like the ones from Happy Trails. Might think about a Parabellum fairing for cold weather riding or if I'm planning an extended stint on the highway.

BMW F650 Dakar

Here's another 650 single. It's liquid-cooled, like the KLR, but it's fuel capacity is only a little more than the DR. My problem with this bike? I'd be afraid to take it off-road! Replacement parts are probably as expensive as the price of a new BMW would lead me to believe. If I had that kind of money to spend I'd go with a KTM.

Who am I kidding? If I had BMW money I'd have a different bike for each of my motorcycling needs.

What does Zen have to do with motorcycle maintenance?

To say I'm not mechanically inclined would be a major understatement. Tools and I just don't get along. Having said this, you would think the more complicated liquid-cooled engine of the KLR wouldn't be a big deal because I'm probably not going to be doing a lot of my own bike maintenance. On the other hand, if I do venture off the beaten path and suffer a breakdown, wouldn't I want the most simple motor to have to fix? Maybe I should find a mechanic friend to ride with...

KTM 640 LC4 Enduro

Here's a bike I wish KTM would bring stateside--and now that they're merging with US manufacturer Polaris, maybe they will. There is also a 950 LC8 (V-twin) version, but for this type of motorcycle I prefer a thumper. It could probably use a slightly larger fuel tank, but nothing is perfect. This is more like the DR650, while the Adventure is more comparable to the KLR. The 990 Adventure, mentioned in a previous post, is incomparable. This bike would probably be out of my price range too.

Changed my mind...again!

And today--after going to the trouble of establishing my KiLRoy650 user name on various websites--I'm leaning towards the DR650. Guess I'll have to come up with something else that's a clever connection to this bike. Will I ever make up my mind?

New user name

Now that I'm definitely leaning toward the KLR, I think I should have a more appropriate user name to go along with my choice of motorcycle. I've decided on KiLRoy650 (note the capital KLR). In the future I can sign my ride reports with KiLRoy650 was here! and maybe take a picture of my final destinations with the lower part of my face covered by something. I've even picked out a new avatar.

Fly me away

I think this is one of the best looking motorcycles ever made (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). I think the first bikes that really caught my attention as a kid were the YZ Yamahas. The dual-purpose DT400 was one of the last mid-size two-strokes sold here in the US. The '78 (pictured here) is my favorite. The all-yellow '02 Suzuki DRZ400S reminds me of this bike. Either would be fun to have, but wouldn't meet my one-bike, do-it-all needs.

Need to move up

My current ride is a Trek 7200. It has a luggage rack with a quick-detach bag and lights for commuting at night (I get off work after midnight). I want to replace it with something like the Kawasaki KLR650. Notice the similar paint scheme on the '07 model?

A co-worker just bought a new KLR and he let me sit on it the other day. I no longer think the 35" seat height would be a problem for me. Even wearing tennis shoes I was able to get the balls of both my feet on the ground and the bike felt very light.

Perfection...at a price

The KTM 950 (990 for '07) Adventure has the perfect package for my needs, but at a price nearly double that of the DR and KLR. A liquid-cooled V-twin engine, 6 gallon fuel tank, 33" seat height and more spacious 2-up accomodations. New, it's out of my price range--but, who knows? Maybe I'll come across a great deal on a used one.

Today I'm leaning more toward the Kawasaki. I don't know about later on today. Or tomorrow...

Triumph Scrambler

OK, this is just plain cool, but--like my old Sportster--not very versatile. The 865cc twin only gets a surprisingly low 35 MPG (results from Rider magazine) which will only net a range of about 150 miles from it's 4.4 gallon fuel tank. You wouldn't want to replace that fuel tank, it's just too darn pretty! Doesn't meet my adventure touring requirements, but I'm sure it will appeal to a lot of nostalgic riders without those goals.

Also considered

Another motorcycle I considered is the new Kawasaki KLX250S. I really like the way this bike looks. For 70+ MPH highway riding, though, it would leave a lot to be desired, and even given the high MPG of a 250cc single it would have limited range with only a 1.9 gallon stock fuel tank. With a MSRP less than $1000 below the two 650's I've narrowed my choice down to, it just wasn't worth the compromise in performance. If all I was going to do was ride around town or local dirt roads (and I could also afford a touring bike for the highway), this might have been the way to go. Maybe if I win the lottery...

Simplicity

One area where the DR edges out the KLR is in simplicity of design. The Suzuki is air (and oil) cooled while the Kawasaki has a big radiator for it's liquid-cooled engine. That's one less potential breakdown. The Suzuki reminds me more of the old dual-purpose bikes with it's sleeker styling, although I would prefer a plain, round headlight instead of the plastic number plate. I've never owned a liquid-cooled bike before, but I understand that their engines should last longer.

Aftermarket support

Being the more popular choice among adventure riders (touring on a dual-sport motorcycle), the KLR has a lot more aftermarket support when it comes to luggage options. Also, the big 6.1 gallon fuel tank has almost twice the range of the 3.4 gallon Suzuki's. That and the standard mini-fairing make it a better touring bike off the showroom floor. The Kawasaki also comes with a bashplate and luggage rack already installed.

Both bikes will eventually need a better saddle for long-range riding (the DR for comfort, the KLR to lower the seat height). There are several aftermarket and do-it-yourself options available for both bikes.

Old school

Remember when dual-purpose bikes had round headlights and dual analog instruments instead of number plates (like you're going to race one) and digital readouts? I should have bought a bike like this 25 years ago and never sold it!

It would be nice if Honda would go retro with it's XR650L and lower the towering 37" seat height to something I could straddle with my 30" inseam. This is one of the differences between the KLR and the DR where I prefer the Suzuki. The Kawasaki has a 35" seat height with a wider saddle and fuel tank to negotiate. The DR's seat height can be adjusted from 34.8" to 33" and has a narrower tank and saddle to straddle. I've sat on a DR in the "tall" set-up and could tip-toe the bike on both sides. I haven't sat on a KLR, but it looks a lot more than .2" taller! I've never owned a bike I couldn't flat foot when I was sitting on it...

I want a motorcycle!

I started riding motorcycles in 1980. When I was 19 I bought my first bike, a '77 Honda XL100. I sold my last bike, an '88 Harley 1200 Sportster, in 1992 with the intention of buying another motorcycle the following year. But life--as it has a habit of doing--got in the way for the next 14 years. My wife has finally realized that I'm very serious about getting another motorcycle, so by next spring I hope to get a new dual-purpose bike (I guess they call them dual-sports now), either a Kawasaki KLR650 or a Suzuki DR650. Both bikes can be had new for around $5000 and are capable of highway speeds or exploring unpaved roads (I'm not interested in doing any demanding off-road riding). The Kawasaki has a larger fuel capacity and roughly twice the range of the Suzuki, but the DR has a lower seat height and is lighter than the KLR. I'll be weighing the pros and cons of these two motorcycles in the coming months until I make my final decision.